Courting Behavior of the Successful Salesman

by Joseph

Every time you interact with a salesman, observe him, and note your own
reactions to him. Why? Because a salesman trying to make a sale is "courting"
you in very much the same way as you do when you are trying to date a girl.

Pretty quickly you'll get to see what comes across as genuine, what doesn't,
what puts your guard up, what doesn't.

Here are a few things I've learnt.

* The guy that follows up the sale at some point, gets the sale. If I
think the company doesn't care enough to follow up, then I don't want to
deal with them.

* Salesmen that use too many compliments come across as slimy and insincere.

* Salesmen that pretend that they are just passing the time of day, i.e.,
as if they are not trying to make a sale, come across as phony (i.e., pretending
you are not interested comes across as lame).

* Salesmen that get to the point even despite obvious nerves, get my
admiration for honesty and courage.

* I like it when they take the time to say "Hi", use my name, remember
things from the last conversation, chat a little, before getting to the
point.

* If I'm trying to back off, and they are pushy, I dig in my heels and
get irritated. If they respect me and back off, and come back sometime later,
I respect and admire their sensitivity to my earlier feelings/decision,
and am better disposed to them, and loosen up.

* If I'm ready to close, and the salesman bails, that's it... forever.
(Once had a real estate agent fail to show for a second house viewing, he
never heard from me again, and lost a sale.)

* If we are closing, and he suddenly starts trying to renegotiate the
asking price (wanting more), I get irritated.

* If they say "I believe in old fashioned values like honesty...blah
blah" I get suspicious. (Why does this have to be said if they really are
honest...?)

* If they reveal flaws in the product that I wouldn't have seen, I get
very impressed with their honesty.

* If they aren't a little nervous, if they are too slick, I get turned
off (they don't seem real). If they are way too nervous, like they are going
to start hyperventilating or something, I get very uncomfortable.

Now, get your own observations and think what it is like for a girl when
you are trying to make a "sale" to her.